Improvement in broom-making machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 2* W. CADY.

BROOM-MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Jan.9, 1877.

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N-PETERS, PHDTOUTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrxon WILLIAM GADY, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BROOM-MAKING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letter! Patent No. 186,077, dated January9, 1877; application filed June 28, 1876. 7

To all whom t't may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM GADY, of thecity and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and use ful Improvement in Machines for Making Broom-CornBrooms, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is anisometrical view of the table B, having sizing and cutting devices forthe broom-corn, and a seat, 0, connected therewith. Fig. 2, Sheet No. 2,is a like view of the front part of the machine for finishing thebrooms. Fig. 3 is a like view of the strips 19 p and springs r 1',connected thereto. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of theframe N, apron L, and parts attached, taken through the middle of theframe. Fig. 5 'is a crosssection taken through the line a; :0 of Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a top view of the carrying-wheel K and cam-plate Y on thesupporting-arms u u of the frame A. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of saidwheel and parts connected. Fig. 8 is a isometrical view of the cam-plateY.

Like letters of reference in all the figures indicate the same parts.

The object of my invention is the accomplishment of the sizing, cutting,and tying of the broom-corn in manufacturing the brooms by a singlemachine, thereby saving much labor and expense in the manufacture.

The nature of the invention consists in the combination and arrangementof a table, having sizing and cutting devices for the broomcorn, with astationary frame, having a revolving carrying-wheel for the conveyanceof the out corn for the inside portion of the brooms to the front of themachine, which is provided with a mandrel, in which the broomhandle isplaced for the tying operation, and an endless apron for conveying thematerial for the covers or wrappers, there being a knife in connectionwith the frame which supports the apron-rollers, for spotting orflattening the stalks of the covers. The reel for holding the twine, andthe spool which contains the twine or cord, are also supported by theframe A, as hereinafter described.

A represents a stationary frame, which sup ports that portion of themachine which is used in the construction of the brooms after thebroom-corn is sized and cut to its proper length. B is a table, (shownin Fig. 1,) which is provided with the devices for sizing and cuttingthe broom-corn previous to its conveyance to the front of the machinefor the construction of the brooms. G is a seat for the person who sizesthe broom-corn into bunches of the proper size. The table B and seat 0are connected together by means of timbers a at. These timbers areconnected to the frame by means of bOllS. The operation of the machineis not, however, dependent on the connection of the table and seat withthe frame in a positive manner, as, for joint operation of the tabledevices, and those for which the devices with which the frame A is provided, it is only necessary that the table be arranged in the rear ofthe frame A in a convenient manner for the sizer and cutter to transferthe broom-corn from the table to the devices, hereinafter described,which convey it to the front of the machine. The table has at its endsupwardly-projecting plates (1 and d, which have bearings for thejournals of the shaft D.

On one end of the shaft is the knife or shear E, for cutting thebroom-corn to its proper lengths. The plate 01 has an opening in itsupper edge, in which the outer ends of the broom-corn are laid to besheared, the knife cutting against the plate, which constitutes thepermanent shear, as well as being a support for the broom-corn and abearing for the knife end of the shaft D. There are upright plates ff,which are recessed in one of their upper corners, so that when the twoplates are brought together, as represented in the drawings, theserecesses form the opening 0, in which the other end of the broomcorn islaid. The platefis fastened to the table by means of screws, which passthrough its flanges, and the plate f is adjustable by means of itsslotted flange and the screw 9, for regulating the size of the recess 0.

The cutting of the broom-corn of any desired length is regulated bymeans of the gage F, which is movable between the ways G G, that areconfined by means of screws to the top of the table B. The gage isfastened in its adjusted position by means of a screw, which passesthrough its longitudinal slot into the table. The knife E is operated bymeans of the lever H on one end of the shaft D. As the knife descendsand cuts the stalks to their length, the arm 8 of the shaft is pressedupon them, and gives the requisite break to them. The knife is broughtback to the position seen in the drawing by means of the spring h, whichis connected at one end with the arm iof the shaft, and at its other endto the table B.

With this convenient mode of sizing and cutting the broom -corn, thework is easily performed by a boy. As each bunch is out, the boytransfers it, if it is intended for the inside of the broom, to thecarrying-wheel K, resting it on the peripheries of the flanges t, t, andt and between a pair of clasps, I and I, connected with the flange t,and a pair of clasps, J J, of the flange t.

The clasps I are permanently connected with the flange t by means ofscrews j, as seen in Fig. 7, and the clasps I are hung on pins k to theplate part of the clasps I. The clasps I are opened by means of thecam-plate Y, (shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8,) as their inner ends pass overthe edge of the cam at the point 1 as the wheel K revolves, thusafl'ording the opportunity of the boy placing a bunch of broom-corn inposition on the flanges of the wheel, the ends of the clasps J J beingsprung open to receive the sweeping ends of the stalks by the pressureof the same between them.

The clasps J J are made of wire, a single piece forming a pair ofclasps. They are fastened to the flange t by means of staples m, as seenin Fig. 2. After the bunch is in position, the clasp I is closed as itsinner end passes the depression of the camplate at the point 2 by theaction of the spring h, and remains closed until the hunch is near thefront of the machine. It is then opened by the inner end bearing againstthe swell at the point 3 by the time the bunch has arrived at aconvenient point for its removal to the broom-handle. Then the clasp isclosed as its inner end passes the edge of the cam-plate at the point 4by the action of the spring h, so as to hold the bunch in positionshould the man in front of the machine fail to remove it from the wheel.

I have represented the clasps at four points of the wheel; but it willbe seen that a fewer or greater number may be used. Instead of havingonly one of the clasps of each pair I and I to open, if desired, theymay both be hung on pins k, and be opened in like manner.

The broom-corn for the covers or wrappers is conveyed to the front ofthe machine by means of the endless apron L on the rollers M M, whichhave their bearings in the frame N, the bunches lying between the cleatsn, which are attached to the apron. Confined to the cleats are steelstraps 0, which project forward beyond the front ends of the cleats, toassist in holding the bunches of the broomcorn in their position on theapron as it passes under the strips p p, which are supported by means ofthe springs r r, so as to automatically yield in accommodation todifferent sizes of bunches. O O are hand-wheels on one end of the shaftsof the rollers-M M, for giving movement to the apron L; Each roller isprovided with a hand-wheel, as represented, so that the apron may bemoved either by the boy in the rear of the machine or by the man infront of the same. P is a twisted knife connected with the frame N, forspotting or cutting the covers or wrappers during the passage of thebunches over it. As a hunch is passing the knife the attendant takeshold of its projecting end and pulls it forward, whereby the shearedparts of the stalks are split off and fall through the opening 2 in thefront side of the frame N. The opening is inclined, as represented, toafford an easy passage of the splits through it. Q is a hollow mandrelfor holding the broom-handle, in the usual manner. Itis supported bysuitable bearings in opposite sides of the case B.

The treadle-shaft S is. supported at its lefthand end by the bearing '0,and at its other end by a bearing at the opposite side of case B. Insideof the case on said shaft there is a belt-wheel, over which 1a beltpasses, to'

make a connection with the mandrel Q in the usual manner. T is atreadle-wheel on the shaft S for revolving the latter. U is a revolvingshaft, which is provided with the spool, over which the cord is wound.It is arranged at the upper part of the frame A, as represented, so asto be out of the way, and also to admit of the cord and wire beingbrought in a convenient manner to the broomhandle, the spool having agroove at one end, over which the wire passes from the reel W. The wire,as it leaves the reel, runs through the staple X, and thence upward overthe spool resting in said groove, and from thence to the mandrel Q orthebroom-handle.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine for making broom-corn brooms,the table B, having stationary holders d and f, and an adjustableholder, f, in combination with the knife E, operated by suitablemechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for making broomcorn brooms, the combination of theknife E, operated by suitable mechanism, and the adjustable gage F, withthe table B, having stationary holders d and f, and an adjustableholder, f, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine for making broom-corn brooms, the shaft D, having aknife, E, lever H, and arm 43, in combination with the spring h. andtable B, having holders d, f, and f, the several parts being constructedand arranged for joint operation, substantially in the manner and forthe purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the arm 8 with the knife-shaft D and holders d, f,and f, for breaking the broom-corn during the downward movement of theknife, substantially as set forth.

5. ,The carrying-wheel K, having pairs of clasps I and I and J J, incombination with the stationary cam-plate Y, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

6. The endless apron L, having cleats n and straps 0, constructed andarranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the knife P with the frame N and endless apron L,for spotting or cutting the covers or wrappers, substantially as setforth.

8. The strips 1) p and springs 'r 1', connected together as described,and arranged to operate in relation to the endless apron L,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM (JADY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. BEWLEY, STEPHEN USTIGK.

